Myths and mysteries surrounding the Tirupati Temple of Andhra Pradesh
India is the home to countless temples famous for their unique architecture, historical significance, beautiful ornamentation and of course the myths and legends around them. One of the famous temples that our country boasts of is Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam in the city of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. A plethora of mystical facts and mind-boggling myths that surround this temple, dedicated to Lord Balaji, add to its charm. Let us dig them out together even though it’s nearly impossible to chafe the truth from fiction!
The idol of Lord Balaji isn’t where it appears to be
The main temple with Lord Balaji's idol is fascinating. When you visit the temple, it appears that it is at the centre, although it is actually in the right-hand corner. Isn't this a fantastic example of an optical illusion? Moreover, you can hear the sound of a booming ocean if you place your ear against the back of the main idol! The lamps lit before the idol are also shrouded in mystery. They have been burning for many years now, and no one knows who first lit them or when they were lit. What we know is that they are lit perpetually.
An unknown village provides helps with the rituals
The mystery continues as the flowers, butter, milk, holy leaves, and other items used in the worship of deities are sourced from an unnamed village about 22 kilometres from Tirupati. Except for its own people, no one has ever seen or visited this hamlet.
Balaji’s statue has real hair!
You'll be surprised to learn that Lord Balaji's hair is 100% real! Even more surprisingly, the hair never gets tangled and remains silky smooth. According to legends, Lord Balaji lost some of his hair during his reign on Earth due to an unforeseen mishap. Neela Devi, a princess, quickly took notice of the incident, cut a portion of her lustrous hair, and offered it to him. Lord Balaji accepted the generous gift and it was declared that anyone who visits his shrine and offers their hair at his feet would be blessed. Yes, you guessed it correctly. This is the rationale behind millions of devotees shaving their heads off before or after their wishes are fulfilled at the steps of the temple and offering them to the Lord.
Sweat drops found on the Balaji idol
Lord Balaji's idol is said to be very much alive and bursting with life. This is because, despite the surroundings being cool due to the temple's steep location, the deity maintains a temperature of 110 °F. A fascinating aspect is that after the holy bath, known as Abhishekham, droplets of sweat appear on the back of the idol, and the priests must wipe the sweat away with fabric. No matter how hard they try, the back of the idol always remains moist! When the priests remove the idol's ornaments for a holy bath once a week, they also experience a warm sensation. Intriguing, isn’t it?
The idol survives strong chemical reactions
Scientifically, it is proven that the combination of raw or green camphor (Pachai Karpooram), a derivative of Cinnamomum camphora tree, when applied on stone, leads to cracks. However, the idol of Shri Tirupati Balaji seems to be resistant to this volatile chemical reaction of camphor. It bears no sign of fissures or cracks, even after being smeared with camphor every day.